The European Union is preparing new measures against Belarus as tensions rise along the Lithuanian–Belarusian border, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Monday after speaking with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda.
“The situation at the border with Belarus is worsening, with the growing incursions of smuggling balloons into Lithuania’s airspace. Such a hybrid attack by the Lukashenka regime is completely unacceptable,” von der Leyen wrote on X. “Lithuania continues to have our full solidarity. We are preparing further measures under our sanctions regime.”.
Nausėda’s office said he thanked von der Leyen and the Commission for supporting Lithuania as it responds to “ongoing hybrid attacks using weather balloons and threats to confiscate trucks registered in the European Union”.
The office said Nausėda warned that Belarus’ failure to control its airspace, borders and territory – and to curb organised criminal activity – poses “a clear destabilising and hybrid threat”.
According to the president, the Commission’s backing is crucial as the situation evolves and affects EU airspace. Nausėda also called for employing advanced technologies to detect and neutralise such threats and for greater sharing of best practices with allies, including the United States. Lithuania is prepared to offer its territory for testing those systems, the statement said.
Nausėda urged the Commission to strengthen its support and “take action on behalf of the European Union,” according to the release.
Separately, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys on Monday urged EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas not to allow Belarus to secure any lifting of sanctions.
Newsletter
Every Friday morning.
